The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-15


up"
Mother will be drcadfully worried
about us, l said, as we went up stairs.
There's nothing to be afraid of,
said Kate. 81 sholld not be frightened
if they stayed away all night"
With much laughter we got our big
bottle of complexion varnish, " as Kate
called it. Taking a piece of rag, we
gave to our faces a thick coating, which
resembled nothing else l had ever seen
before or have seen since.
81 suppose we shall have to sit up to
let it dry il" l said, as contemplated
myself in the glass, ut won't do for
US to ruin the pillow-cases.'
I'm too tired to sit up said Kate.
"Why can't we make cloth masks?
Where's that old pique spread you were
cutting up yesterdays"
l produced it from the lower shelf of
the washstand, and the masks were
soon made. They were simply long
pieces of white cloth reaching from the
tops of our foreheads to the collars of
our night-dressos, with small holes for
the eyes and nostlils. We attached
strings to them, and tied them on.
1--WE look like veritable spooks,"
said Kate, just before she blew out the
light and jumped into bed
We both soon fell asleep. 1t must
have been near midnight when l was
awakened by noise in the dining
room, which was directly below the
one we occupied. 1t sounded asst some
one was moving about stealthiEy-or
some thing, rather, for l decided at
once that it was Tige. Iwaked Kate
by giving her vigorous punch in the
back.
kate" l said, 1--WE must have shut
old Tige up in the dining-room. Very
likely he hid in the china closet when
the storm came on, and fell asleep
there. We must go down and let him
out"
Haven't father and mother Gomez"
asked Kate, sleepily.
81 guess not" l answered, 81 hav.
emit heard them"
We did not stop to put on our shoes
or light a candle, but stole down Just
as we were, and entered the sitting
room, which communicated with the
dining-room by a folding-door Ad-
vancing to this door, we pushed it open,
expecting to be greeted by Tige's
familiar whine. What was our surprise
and horror to see the back of one man
in the china closet directly opposite US,
and burly negro busily engaged by
the light of lantern, in preparing 70
take the silver and linen from the
dining-tabls, in what seemed to be
stout canvas bag.
Paralyzed with fear, we stood in tie
doorway, not able to speak or stir,
scarcely to breathe. The sound made
by the opening Of the door, however,
caused the man at the table to look up.
For one instant he gazed at us with
dropped jaw, and eyes almost starting
from their sockets, then, giving yell
which might have been heard half a
mile off, he let fall the silver he was
holding, and with one bound was out Of
the open window. His companion,
startled by his cutlery, rushed out Of the
closet in alarm. Pen could not describe
his abiect terror, as his eyes fell on Us,
and his yell as he sprang toward the
window was even louder than that
which had been given by his com-
panion. We could hear the sound Of
their labored breathing as they both
rushed away in the darkness. For a
moment was at loss to account for
their strange terror; but a glance at
Kate made it clear.
In our long white night-dresses> and
white masks we certainly looked like
veritable ghosts. Negroes are exceed
ingly superstitious, and these men, L am
| sure, supposed we were unquiot spirits
come from the graveyard not far away.
to rebuke them for the crime in which
they were engaged, we speRf sn8 rest
of. the night in a state of nervous terror,
which made us heartily glad when al
seven o'clock we heard the sound OF
wheels and saw our parents drive up tC
the door. Giving to the washing away
of a bridge, they had been unable tC
get. home the previous night and haC
, accepted the hospitality of a farmer
near Warrenton, who had provided
) them with supper and a bed.
). "And we were in suclila hurry to fine
out if you girls were all right that W,
}. came off before breakfast" said father
,. did you miss usP We're you fright
3 enede"
= Then with shuddsring and tears W
D told our story, AID wero alternatel,
kissed and cried aEer 10y mother, VIII
G declared that never, 'aeUer would Sd
a leave us alone again, eTem there wer
q fifty deeds to sign. -
As to that complexion varnish,n on
20 anOIication shaved no favorable T,